New horizons

When rock music travels through new horizons of technology.

Once upon a time…

a decade in which everything seemed possible. Be it in technology, fashion, or music. In the 80s, synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines dominated the music scene.

Every year brought a new innovation: new synthesis methods for synthesizers, new ways to produce music, and musicians and producers who fully exploited these new possibilities, creating new styles and soundscapes with boundless creativity. 

Almost no musician in the 80s could have avoided synthesizers and samplers, and why should they? Such new, unimagined possibilities for creativity opened up, and this new sound was powerful and precise.

Bands of all genres, whether pop, rock, hard rock, metal… and even a blues rock band! Incredible, right?

The blues rock trio ZZ Top, formed in 1969, probably took it to the extreme. With their albums “Eliminator” (1983) and “After Bruner” (1985), they produced them entirely using synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines, except for the guitar and vocals.

The style is influenced by new wave, but ZZ Top found their own new sound for the 80s and were more popular than ever. The album “Eliminator” is the band’s most successful.

This video is from one of their hit-singles. You have to imagine: this sounds new, hip and fresh at this time: 

Riding that wave, with the album “Tao” (1985), Rick Springfield also broke new ground in his career.

It was produced entirely with synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, as well as guitar and vocals. Even guitarist Tim Pierce played some parts using the Roland GR-707/700 synthesizer guitar, for example, the “horn” solo in “Celebrate Youth.”

Everyone wanted to use these new sounds, guitarists and drummers alike. Here are some of the most widely used devices:

And guess what, Rush was in on it too!

Monumental and simply brilliantly produced, the album “Power Windows” from 1985. Geddy Lee, lead singer, bassist, and keyboardist of the band, constantly switches between electric bass and keyboards, playing the bass part on synthesizers.

For the rest, sequencers were used and that handled the synthesizer parts on live presentations.  

And then this Queen album “Hot Space” – I must confess, I was shocked! But for sure, it was a new approach for the band.

You can listen to the whole record here:  

Glenn Hughes (formerly of Deep Purple, Trapez, etc.) was involved in this project in 1985 called “Phenomena“, along with Tom Galley and many other well-known rock musicians. A drum machine replaced the acoustic drum kit (though not on all tracks), and synthesizers characterize the album’s sound.

Check it out: 

This should of course not be missing here: Van Halens “5150” (1986) Album. In this live video of “Love Walks In,” watch Halen also performing on the keyboards:

There’s so much more to say. But that’s enough for today.

I hope I’ve inspired you to listen to these old tracks again 😉  

Cheers

Carsten